Fuel price hike to worsen people’s sufferings: Jamaat

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami today (21 September) protested the government’s decision to raise fuel prices by Tk 20 per litre, saying it will further worsen people’s sufferings amid rising commodity prices.

In a statement, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar said people were already struggling due to the unchecked rise in commodity prices, while the balance between the income and expenses of low- and middle-income people has been disrupted.

“They are struggling to meet their household expenses. In such a situation, the decision to raise fuel prices by Tk 20 per litre in one go will create a fresh crisis in people’s lives and further increase their sufferings,” he said.

The Jamaat leader said the impact of the fuel price hike will not remain confined to vehicle users.

As fuel is one of the key components of transportation and production systems, he said, the price hike will increase costs of agricultural and factory production, transportation and doing business.

“Consequently, prices of essential commodities and other goods will rise in the market. Ultimately, the common people will have to bear the burden,” Porwar said.

He said the government should have considered people’s purchasing power, the incomes of low- and middle-income groups and the overall economic situation before taking the decision. “Passing the burden of instability in the international market directly onto the people can in no way be considered a public welfare policy,” he said.

The Jamaat leader said the government should first take effective measures to explore alternatives, reduce costs, prevent waste and irregularities, improve efficiency in fuel management and cut unnecessary expenditure in the relevant sector.

At the same time, he said, strict monitoring should be ensured to control the prices of goods in the market, and irregularities by middlemen should be stopped.

“If the government tries to address the financial pressure on state agencies simply by raising prices, it will have long-term adverse impacts on people’s livelihoods,” Porwar said.

He said alleviating people’s suffering is the government’s responsibility and repeatedly imposing an additional economic burden through price hikes is unacceptable. “We urge the government to withdraw its decision to increase fuel prices by Tk 20 per litre,” he said.